SouthernWingsFan

Hopefully the Penguins fan you quoted isn't a true representaive of the Penguins fan base. Not liking Lidstrom because he's so damned good and not on your team, all right. Fans are going to be fans. Not sure what else there is to dislike about him. He's not a jackass, he doesn't talk s**t, he's a easily likable person I think. Has he kicked dogs in his life or something?

Unless Zetterberg comes up in a monster performance in the next game (or two if there are two), you gotta give it to Osgood. Nothing against Zetterberg whatsoever obviously given what he's done so far in the playoffs. People in here have clamored for Osgood to steal games here and there for a change and that he doesn't make big saves before the playoffs started. While he certainly hasn't "carried" this team alone in the playoffs, he's certainly done more than his fair share and kept the Wings in games with big saves when the rest of the team has floundered at times, and has stolen a game here and there. I think he was he biggest reason the Wings won games 1 and 2 of this series.

A lot of teams do this when they are losing a game. Not just Pittsburgh. It's a part of the game for better or worse. Sometimes it costs you, sometimes it doesn't. Last night, it cost Pittsburgh dearly.

I can't accurately comment of commentary after game 4 by them since I barely listened to any post-game pub then, but their immaturity or whatever you want to call it taking idiotic dead-whistle penalties certainly cost them tonight as well. *Looks in the direction of Kunitz going into the penalty box, then out of the penalty box in less than 2 minutes*

Please tell me if I'm being unfair or unreasonable on this, or if I'm posting something that'll get some "Well, duh" responses, or if I'm being to simplistic or whatever. One thing I do not want this thread to turn into is a Bettman loves Crosby/Pitt thread or everybody is purposefully against the Red Wings. I'm just so sick and tired of hearing and reading about officiating from either here from our fans or on the radio or from the drama queen rants I've read on here based off stories of respones of Pitt fans from the first two games, whatever. I'm just tired about it in general. No, the referees shouldn't be treated like sweet innocent puppy dogs, that's not what I'm trying to imply. I'm just tired of rants that referees have it in for *insert team name here* and there are conspiracies or whatever else. Just seems extremely rampant more than usual this time around in a playoff series than other series or years, much much more. Maybe it's also that I have no desire to waste time being a conspiracy theorist as it'd make me more miserable. I have never officiated hockey, but I have other sports before at less talented levels of play, but it is still hard to do. I made my share of bad calls as well and got dogged for it. Is the state of officating in the NHL all hunky dory? Of course not, but also see above what I've stated twice as well. Also what I learned is no matter what, there are going to be missed calls and inconsistency, I don't care what game or sport it is. 99 times out of 100 the referees do not ultimately decide a game or series, both teams in a game are going to get their share of good/bad breaks from officiating, and they tend to even out in a game or series. That's just the way it is when human error and judgment get involved.

I know you got to worry about matching up with Crosby and Malkin on separate lines in all likelihood, but I'd put Zetterberg and Datsyuk back together, to match up with either line accordingly. Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Cleary/Holmstrom Franzen-Filppula-Hossa Hudler-Helm-Samuelsson Maltby-Draper-Cleary/Holmstrom I know it looks lame to put Cleary on a 4th line when he's scored a good bit this postseason, but he's one of the better 2-way players the Wings have, can easily go into a defensive role if needed. If Datsyuk/Zetterberg split up... Franzen-Zetterberg-Cleary Hossa-Datsyuk-Holmstrom (I know they've been ragged on together/not that successful lately, but not much else has worked the past 2 games) Hudler-Filppula-Samuelsson Helm-Draper-Maltby

Nope. Talk to me about that in about a month or so. The person below me smells.

Feather. Chips or Dip

For that specific instance, no doubt about it. However though, it's still a joke to me to read or hear that referees cost my team a game, b/c that is rarely (or solely) the case.

Perhaps. I don't think he is. Last night he was bad, yes. So were plenty of other people though. Hockey's a team game, you win/lose as a team. Last year's playoffs tell differently. He was quite good then. No, we should not trade him.

Wings are losing right now b/c a combo of tired legs, giving the puck up too much, lack of productivity on special teams, Penguins forechecking, and Fleury not letting in any cheapie goalies. Simple as that.

Crosby smells. Filppula doesn't. Sorry, that's the best I could come up with.

One person alone does not win or lose a Stanley Cup for you. While Datsyuk would certainly help, it is not the end-all determiniation of if the Wings will win or not. They can win without him if it has to be that way. This series is far from over.

Do you honestly read what you type? Are you kidding me? You must enjoy coming on here to get slaughtered because everybody else thinks your views are just so incredibly out of whack. Does that give you some kind of hint that you make no sense? Doesn't seem too productive or good for my esteem or logical if I were to keep coming on here and just getting hammered over and over again. Now, if the teams were reversed, would Wings fans boo Hossa? Probably so to a degree, I wouldn't be shocked nor disappointed/upset. That is what fans do. Fans boo, they generally cheer for the team over the individual. However Hossa does not owe the Penguins nor their fans anything. Just like Fedorov didn't owe the Wings anything when he left, even though it was a bitter departure. Both had their reasons for leaving. Fedorov wanted to go to a place where he though he could lead/excel better, Hossa went to a place where he thought his odds were best to win a Stanley Cup. Nothing wrong with that. Are you going to kick Ray Bourque in the butt for going to Colorado at the time for the exact same reason as Hossa? A place where he thought it was his best chance to finally win a Stanley Cup. You are either one of two things. A drama queen who wants attention with your insane posts and are clever enough using this method. Or you are probably a very smart man, but you are DUMB and SLOW.

Jay sounds cooler. Getting hit with a tennis ball or racquet ball?

Not really, never have watched the Tonight Show to tell you the truth. The person below me has stuck their head in the dishwasher.

Certainly wouldn't shock me if it happened, we've seen the Wings both on the wrong/right end of 2-0 deficits (or leads) plenty of times in recent history (2001 Los Angeles, 2002 Vancouver, 1999 Colorado, etc.). Different teams/scenarios of course but it show that it can certainly happen. Part of me is nervous as hell still because the Penguins aren't suffering from stage freight, they have brought their best or close to it I think, but just are not quite burying their chances. Sooner or later you'd think that might change. On the other hand the other part of me says it's going to be difficult to beat the Red Wings 4 out of 5 games. As long as they can weather the storm/crowd in Pittsburgh, Osgood plays around the top of his game, and turnovers are kept to an absolute minimum, no reason why this series goes at worst no more than 6 games.

It is all but impossible for any broadcaster to go a game without hardcore fans yelling pro or negative bias towards a team. Broadcasters, to some degree, are paid to be controversal and to start stories for debate, perhaps stories that aren't there. I haven't paid much attention to Olczyk one way or another, but I probably wouldn't get all up in arms in what he's saying. He's just doing his job in all likelihood.

Sure did his part to help win us a Stanley Cup in 2002. That selfish bastard...

99 times out of 100 you won't hear much bitterness from my end. Conspiracy theories and theorists are the biggest waste of time, don't see much point in making yourself more miserable. And with refs, of course there are going to be bad calls, but they typically go both ways. That is what happen when human error gets involved, it's natural. Referees are not out to get one specific team or play favorites.

Defense often wins championships. It has only been 2 games so far though, and it takes 4 games to win a series. Saying that Crosby is the most overrated superstar in hockey is a bit of a stretch.

I was out watching the game so no sounnd where I was at, and wasn't familiar with the ruling at all until I learned about it hearing on XM radio that he might get suspended. So, took a little while for me to learn/digest it...

I'm still nervous as hell as well. Not because I doubt the Red Wings whatsoever, not at all. Just the Penguins can be this good. A few bounces go their way, it might not be a 2-0 game. The Penguins aren't suffering from stage freight and they haven't slowed down much. I'm almost always a nervous goof though in playoff series even if my team is up 3-0 with a 5 goal lead in the final game, etc. I'm cautiously optimistic, but this series is far from over.

Was initially a bit upset to learn Malkin wasn't getting suspended, but part of that is being in the heat of the moment with this series. No "messages" were sent per se in terms of goons just starting crap with a game out of hand, etc. No need for a suspension.

Are you kidding me? He's barely getting PT with 4th-line time. And in that time, he has contributed on the scoresheet. He's a rookie who has only played a handful of playoff games. He hasn't done anything to cost the team games. He has barely had the playing time to be even noticable out there, but he has been noticed, in a good way. Understand what reasonable expectations are given the situation.